Aggressive scammers threaten family members

These types of scams on the rise

“The text came to my cellphone and I looked at it and it said ‘I killed your mother. Call me now,’” explained Adamire.

The message contained a phone number located in Romania. She did not call the number.

News 8’s Brian Roche asked Adamire what her immediate reaction was when she first read the text. Her answer: “You know, you kind of feel angry because you’re violated because someone has made a threat against a loved member of your family."

Adamire called her mother right away and learned she was safe in her home. Then she called the police.

In the last few weeks, Roche says he has noticed a dramatic change in the kind of scams that are being reported as well as local police departments. No longer are the scammers just trying to trick you into giving up your money, now they’re trying to scare you into coughing up cash.

“It seems that the people doing the scams now are taking it to the level of direct threat to the person,” said Detective Jonathan Keisse with New Holland police.

Heisse says that public awareness of lottery scams, telephone cons and credit card rip offs is increasing, and that makes it tougher for scammers to make a living, so now they’ve got to try something new.

“By making these direct threats, it’s just another area now where people fear for their safety, fear for their loved ones and are more willing to run to the bank and send $1,000, $2,000,” said Heisse.

Police say if you get a text message or a call threatening a loved one, make every effort you can to contact that person before you even consider sending money.

If you are being threatened with bodily injury or being arrested, hang up the phone immediately. The longer the scammer keeps you on the phone, the more they will try to scare and intimidate you.

Earlier this week, News 8 reported on a scam where someone is making calls claiming to be from the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office, threatening to arrest people. Thursday, the sheriff told Roche that several more people have reported the scam but did not fall for it because they saw our story.

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